The 3:57 by William E. Spear

A FORCE OF POETS, Episode 04 - Phillis Wheatley

The next poet offers praise to start and end the day and an ode for a safe crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

Hear those and more on . . . The 3:57 by William E. Spear.

(Theme for A Force of Poets comes up)

Hello my name is William Spear and this is our series titled A FORCE OF POETS.

Our fourth poet is Phillis Wheatley.

She was born in Gambia, Africa in 1753 and captured by slave traders in 1761. Her first name was changed to that of the ship that brought her to America where she was sold to the Wheatley family of Boston, Massachusetts.

In 1784, she died of complications from childbirth.

But during her life she became the first African American and second woman after Anne Bradstreet to publish a book of poems.

Wheatley's book, POEMS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, RELIGIOUS AND MORAL, published in 1773, included the following:

- A FUNERAL POEM ON THE DEATH OF C. E. AN INFANT OF TWELVE MONTHS

- TO HIS HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, ON THE DEATH OF HIS LADY. MARCH 24, 1773

- TO S. M. A YOUNG AFRICAN PAINTER, ON SEEING HIS WORKS

This episode focuses on AN HYMN TO THE MORNING, AN HYMN TO THE EVENING, and ODE TO NEPTUNE.

From A FORCE OF POETS . . . this is Phillis Wheatley.

WESJr